This story is about a sugar skull kitty named José, who, upon waking to a bristling arc of sunlight kissing his face, is inspired by the idea of a novel mind and decides to visit a small Mexican village at sunset to say hello to sugar skull friends painted for the Christmas festivities.

Visions flowed into magically surreal thoughts! Who am I? Am I just another sugar skull painting? I live when you imagine me, and the rest of the time, maybe un poquito. Words and letters lilted off pages like glittering fairies in flight, and the "v" in "Noel visions" speared itself into "Noel" in fiery sparks, transforming into "novel."

In the first scene, José encounters Twinkle, a celestial traversing cat, and Quetzal, a Toltec shaman wearing groovy bell-bottoms, who gifts José a ring of the Awakening Elements (Self-Truthing, Opening, Forgiving, Compassing, Letting Be, Trusting, and Believing).

In the storyline "Self-Truthing," José encounters Pedro, a skull sitting on the ground, who reveals that he was rolled from a hoof or boot and describes "hurt my feelings more than my bones, and eventually, children came to play and kindly returned me."

In the storyline "Opening," José encounters Pepe, a sugar skull guitar longing to play an endearing song.

In the storyline "Forgiving," José finds Pablo at a Dia De Los Muertos offering altar with lit candles, flowers, and a picture of his Tia Luz.

In the storyline "Compassing," José is startled upon hearing barks in Spanglish, "guau guau woof woof", whips a pointy claw at Daisy. The two have a hearty laugh, and José gifts Daisy a ribboned bow.

In the storyline "Letting Be," José encounters Estrella, a papal picado (banner) glistening amongst nebulae, galaxies, quasars, and pulsars! Estrella is a free spirit dancing to a whispering breeze.

In the storyline "Trusting," José finds Frida, an artisan flowery-painted fluorescent ornament created with crystals. Frida, who is carefully placed on a Christmas tree by a sister and brother, is at peace with an oopsie happening. In a passage, Frida joyfully proclaims to the children, with her wings embracing the sky, "¡Tengo alas para volar!"

In the storyline "Believing," Popocatépetl (Popoca) and Iztaccíhuatl (Maxtli) are banners on the sides of an arched door, frozen in eternity, believed to awaken only to the trembling heart of a pure love traversing. José offers Popoca a rose, and in a fluid gesture, Mixtli gently cradles the rose.